By now many have already gone back to their routines and way of life. Some have even started turning back to habitual sins and worldly distractions. Why because many think it is personal matter between them and the Lord our God. Lent is an individual journey to conversion. How wrong they are and continue to believe this to be true. Simply let us all dwell upon what does is mean to be One Body in Christ Jesus our Lord? If we are truly One Body in Him, then can we not see how individual sin affects the Body as a whole? That is why it imperative we belong to a community of ‘saints’ in that we are all called to Holiness; and being part of a community of like minded believers helps us to stay on the narrow path. All of the Ninevites (One community who believed in God) repented and God our Father was compassionate and merciful towards them.
‘Only forty days more’ in our case 30+ balance before Easter. But hey did we miss just how much God loves us? He could have easily told Jonah to declare 24hrs before Nineveh is destroyed, but the Lord our God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Let us not take His love for us for granted and use this time He has given us to turn back from sin and draw closer to Him. Let us gaze upon the crucifix that we have and dwell upon the great mercy and love of our and saviour Jesus Christ who died for us so that we may live. Amen
First reading
Jonah 3:1-10 ·
The Ninevites repent, and God spares them
The word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah: ‘Up!’ he said ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to them as I told you to.’ Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was a city great beyond compare: it took three days to cross it. Jonah went on into the city, making a day’s journey. He preached in these words, ‘Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be destroyed.’ And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least. The news reached the king of Nineveh, who rose from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth and sat down in ashes. A proclamation was then promulgated throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his ministers, as follows: ‘Men and beasts, herds and flocks, are to taste nothing; they must not eat, they must not drink water. All are to put on sackcloth and call on God with all their might; and let everyone renounce his evil behaviour and the wicked things he has done. Who knows if God will not change his mind and relent, if he will not renounce his burning wrath, so that we do not perish?’ God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour, and God relented: he did not inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened.
Gospel
Luke 11:29-32
As Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be a sign
The crowds got even bigger, and Jesus addressed them:
‘This is a wicked generation; it is asking for a sign. The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here. On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here.’
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